US Men's National Team Camp Report: USA Training in Colorado Springs This Week

Editor's Note: The Colorado Rapids will scrimmage the US Men's National Team in a closed-door match on Tuesday. Visit ColoradoRapids.com for the full game report following the match.

COOL IN COLORADO: Having moved operations to the elevation of Colorado Springs the national team returns to work Monday after having Sunday off and two days of training already under their belt. Working amidst the majestic presence of Pike's Peak the group continues the process of acclimatization. Their first real test will come March 19 in Albuquerque when the U.S. hosts Honduras at University Stadium. Kickoff for the match is set for 2 p.m. MT and the match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker presented by Philips Electronics. For ticket info visit USSoccer.Com.

COLORADO RAPIDS CONNECTIONS: Several members of the US national team currently call Colorado home. While the Colorado Rapids' trio of Joe Cannon Ritchie Kotschau and Pablo Mastroeni live just outside of Denver during the season teammate Nat Borchers hails from nearby Pueblo. U.S. Assistant Coach and former Rapids Head Coach Glenn Myernick resides in neighboring Thornton and spent five years living in Colorado Springs in the early '90's.

GOINGS AND COMINGS (AND GOINGS): Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin is logging some serious frequent flier miles this month. After leaving the Carson camp March 6 to participate in the Wizards' first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on March 9 (a 0-0 draw against Deportivo Saprissa) Zavagnin re-joined the team Thursday night in Colorado Springs. And now he's leaving again. Zavagnin leaves tomorrow (March 15) and will travel to Costa Rica for the return leg of the series March 16 then head to Albuquerque the next day for the Honduras friendly. Also rejoining camp is goalkeeper Joe Cannon who made a quick detour to Birmingham Ala. as he went the distance in the Rapids' 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire in an exhibition last Saturday night.

JOINING IN: The numbers in Colorado Springs will remain the same as Reading FC midfielder Bobby Convey has been summoned to camp and will arrive tomorrow evening. Convey will be making his first trip with the national team in 2005 having made nine appearances and seven starts last year. Convey is the first of what is expected to be several European-based players added to the roster in advance of the upcoming qualifiers against Mexico and Guatemala.

FIRST TIMERS SPEAK OUT: The USA’s 3-0 victory against Colombia was a night of firsts for this emerging group of national team prospects. Six first-time starters four first-time capwinners and two first-time goalscorers. A journeyman goalkeeper gets his first clean sheet and a World Cup veteran wears the captain’s armband for the first time. Ussoccer.com sat down with this clearly excited group to talk about their experiences the taste of victory at the international level and what it feels like to represent the United States. "It’s something every kid looks forward to said Brian Mullan. "Listening to the anthem I was just thinking about what an honor it was to be there and trying to put everything into perspective. Not many people get to do this." To read the full transcript visit USSoccer.Com.

MARSHALL JOINS ELITE LIST: Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall joined an elite list of U.S. Men's National Team players by becoming just the eighth player since 1986 to score a goal in his first-ever appearance with the team. Marshall scored the second goal in the USA's 3-0 win over Colombia on March 9 in Fullerton Calif. In the 90-year history of the U.S. MNT program Marshall is one of 39 players overall to accomplish the feat.

Note: 39 players in the 90-year history of the U.S. Men's National Team have scored goals in their U.S. debut.

BUSCH SHUTOUT HISTORIC: Columbus Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch became just the seventh player in the history of the U.S. Men’s National Team to earn a shutout in his first cap with the team. Busch held South American power Colombia scoreless making two saves on nine shots in a 3-0 win on March 9 in Fullerton Calif. Additionally the veteran goalkeeper is one of just five players to earn a shutout victory in his first cap.